PROPOSED GRADE 7-12 WCDSB SCHOOL
AT 20 WOOLNER TRAIL
AT 20 WOOLNER TRAIL
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board came to the City of Kitchener Planning Committee Meeting on Monday October 30 to request a zone change to build a new Grade 7 to 12 School at 20 Woolner Trail. It was item 10.3 on the agenda. You can see all the documents related to this request and watch the video from the meeting where the WCDSB and several delegations spoke to the application HERE
With current projections, WCDSB estimates 1,400 students will attend this school. Around 700 students would be bussed with an estimated 14 busses needed.
The decision for the zone change application was deferred until December 11 so all stakeholders, the WCDSB, Region Of Waterloo and City of Kitchener can discuss the safety issues brought up and address them.
VIDEO OUTLINING THE SAFETY ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED HERE
Below, outlined in red, is an image of the land where the school is to be located and some of the issues that need to be addressed. There are also a gallery of photos showing the Roundabout crossing area
I created a document to capture and illustrate the full shared concerns residents and I have. You can read it HERE
The list of asks to address safety concerns for all three stakeholders is HERE
The WCDSB has responded to addressing the concerns under their jurisdiction. You can read those responses HERE
Residents and I are clear. We're not opposing this location, but we can't support the zone change for this location if safety measures to address student safety issues aren't confirmed before Council would grant the zone change needed to proceed.
If you share these safety concerns, I encourage you to contact Kitchener's Region Of Waterloo Councillors, WCDSB Trustees and Kitchener Councillors. You can find who they are and contact information on my Who To Contact Page or at the bottom of this page.
With current projections, WCDSB estimates 1,400 students will attend this school. Around 700 students would be bussed with an estimated 14 busses needed.
The decision for the zone change application was deferred until December 11 so all stakeholders, the WCDSB, Region Of Waterloo and City of Kitchener can discuss the safety issues brought up and address them.
VIDEO OUTLINING THE SAFETY ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED HERE
Below, outlined in red, is an image of the land where the school is to be located and some of the issues that need to be addressed. There are also a gallery of photos showing the Roundabout crossing area
I created a document to capture and illustrate the full shared concerns residents and I have. You can read it HERE
The list of asks to address safety concerns for all three stakeholders is HERE
The WCDSB has responded to addressing the concerns under their jurisdiction. You can read those responses HERE
Residents and I are clear. We're not opposing this location, but we can't support the zone change for this location if safety measures to address student safety issues aren't confirmed before Council would grant the zone change needed to proceed.
If you share these safety concerns, I encourage you to contact Kitchener's Region Of Waterloo Councillors, WCDSB Trustees and Kitchener Councillors. You can find who they are and contact information on my Who To Contact Page or at the bottom of this page.
I have met with and connected with several residents who support the school, BUT along with me, have serious concerns for the safety of the 1,400 students who will to attend this school. None of us are comfortable with students having to cross Fairway Road and Woolner Trail at the Roundabout at Fairway Road and Woolner Trail/Old Zeller Drive. The image below shows where students will have to cross through the roundabout to get to the school. It also shows an issue where some students may attempt crossing Fairway at Eden Oak Trail. Residents and I are requesting a signaled pedestrian crossing or stop lighted intersection at Eden Oak Trail for student safety. This would replicate the signaled pedestrian crossing on Lackner Blvd at Corfield Drive used for safe crossing for students at Chicopee Hills School. Please see the full document for more details
Speeds on Fairway Road are also an issue. I want the speeds currently used on Homer Watson for student safety crossing the Roundabout at Homer Watson and Block Line Road to get to St. Mary's High School, replicated on Fairway Road. That means the current speed of 80 coming out of the Fountain Street Roundabout would be reduced to 70 and the the decrease to 60 before Eden Oak Trail would be reduced to 50. There would also be a 30kph sign at the Roundabout. I would also like a 50kph zone established from before Eden Oak Trail to where Idle Creek Drive and Fairway Crescent intersect Fairway Road. This would also improve safety for students getting to Chicopee Hills School. Note that the City of Kitchener provides 5 crossing guards to help with student safety at Chicopee Hills School, so safety is a huge issue.
There is potential for huge congestion causing safety issues along Upper and Lower Mercer and Woolner Trail. Parents may choose to use these streets as a drop off area.
Fuller details of safety concerns needing addressing by The City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo and WCDSB - HERE
The list of asks for all three stakeholders to address safety concerns they look after is HERE
I encourage you to contact those who have a say in addressing the safety issues associated with this location:
The list of asks for all three stakeholders to address safety concerns they look after is HERE
I encourage you to contact those who have a say in addressing the safety issues associated with this location:
Some images from the Fairway/Woolner/OldZeller Drive Roundabout and Eden Oak Trail at Fairway Rd intersection where students would cross Fairway Road and Woolner Trail.
Taken Monday November 6 Between 12:50 and 1pm
If you share these safety concerns and would like to ask your elected representatives to bring the Safety Asks forward, their contact information is below.
CITY OF KITCHENER - COUNCIL CONTACT PAGE
EMAIL ALL OF KITCHENER COUNCIL AT THE SAME TIME HERE
Our Kitchener Representatives on Regional Council:
Colleen James - cjames@regionofwaterloo.ca
Michael Harris - mharris@regionofwaterloo.ca
Kari Williams - kariwilliams@regionofwaterloo.ca
Rob Deutschmann - rdeutschmann@regionofwaterloo.ca
Berry Vrbanovic -bvrbanovic@regionofwaterloo.ca
REGION OF WATERLOO COUNCIL CONTACT PAGE
Our Kitchener Trustees On The Waterloo Region Catholic District School Board:
Tracey Weiler (Chair) tracey.weiler@wcdsb.ca
Kathy Doherty-Masters kathy.dohertymasters@wcdsb.ca
Renee Kraft renee.kraft@wcdsb.ca
Winston Francis winston.francis@wcdsb.ca
WCDSB TRUSTEE WEBPAGE
WHO LOOKS AFTER WHAT AT EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT CONTACT PAGE